Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-06-03
spring itself when I come TO claim

/ SN' 'NhNh W tho WV
of contagious fever, that spread with
lightning rapidly through the entire
village. 1t was so violent. so fatal
that every one spared actual sickness
was busy. in the care of friend or rela-
| tive.
May forgot her dainty stitching and
ruff ing, her coming wedding. and even
her happ ness. in the suffering around
her. In the fearful, scorchng heat of
long August drought she worked over
hot cooking-stove. preparing delica-
ces for the sick. and carried them her.
self to the sufferers, the scorching sun
beating down on her with dry, burn
ing heat Often she found the nurse
of Yesterday the invalid of to-day, and
would remain night after night tend
ing the worse cases under her fathers
care more than once ending her duty
by dressing the still form of a dearly
loved fir end for the grave.
Her father guarded her by prevent
tives and precautions as far as possible,
but he never stopped her.
"She is doing the work of her Heav-
emily Father; he will protect her." was
his answer TO some friendly remon-
strances, and for a long me it SEEM
ed as if the maiden bore indeed a
charmed life.
The fever had run It's course,
when, in September. cool, wet
week broke the oppressive, heat, and no
new cases occurred afterward except
one. Bat ah, that one tore the doc
tors heart strings more than all the
rest, for in her room. tossing in
delirious agony, May called pitifully
for the father she did not recognize.
the lover, absent from her, the friends
gone from earth forever. Over and
over again she lived the painful scenes
of the past few weeks. and Mrs. Wells,
her faithful nurse, knew she stood
very near the grave for many long
DAYS.
May did not know when Mark Pen
dleton was sent for and admitted to the
darkened room, for what they feared
was "a last gaze at his promised wife;
she did not know when all the glori-
Gus profusion OF her golden hair was
shorn of, TO place bladders of ice upon
her head she knew nothing for MANI
many days, till. waking from long.
deep sleep, she saw, with clear. COM
pretending eyes, her fathers face
bending over her.
She smiled wondering where her
voice had gone, rs she said, family:
Father
And he, softly kissing her eyelids, as
they closed again only murmured:
Thank God! my child is spared to
me"
There was long convalescence, and
after May could sit mp and be dressed
she wondered where her mirror and
hand-gltss had vanished. Mrs. Wells
muttered someth NJ about "Elizas so
careless, always breaking something"
and her father called her little vanity"
with qu.vering smile. when she asked
for them.
Even when Mark came. as he did
several times Mrs. Wells dressed her,
tied on the lace cap that covered her
poor, bald head, and said sick folks
wercn' t expected to prink."
But one day, when she felt nearly
well. she stole down TO the sitting-room
alone, and looked full in the mirror
over the mantlepiece.
She knew then why she had been so
tenderly guarded from the shock of
seeing her own face. A border Of fluted
lace replaced her splendid hair. and a
uniform deep pink color was spread
like a mask over her whole face. Her
eyes were sunken, and strange, UNI
natural ugliness seemed to have usurped
her own beauty. Covering her face
she wept bitter, unavaling tears.
She had been innocently proud of
her lovely face. and Mark had loved
it. Even in her first grief she thought
most of her lover. sobbing his name
till, as if in answer. he bent over her.
May he said. do not grieve so.
1t Is only your beauty that is gone.
The best of you is here. little May"
She looked up saying:
You had better call me Mary Jane
now. 1t suits my face better"
II want TO call you Mrs. Pendeton,
as soon as possible" he replied, gaiy.
MARK! You would not mary such
sght?'
just try me! Why. May" he add
ed, gravely. 'you surely do not imagine
this change in your face shakes my
love. Suppose this fever had come
after we were married, DO you suppose
l should have run away?'
You would have been forced TO sub
NIT then, suppose. she said. very
dolefullv. Now you can escape"
Thanks am very we'll content
in my present bondage. assure you.
And he proved the fact by urging an